Friday, June 24, 2016

Britain Votes to Leave the European Union

This is monumental news - a seismic shift in global politics. The after-effects have already started, as Scotland and Northern Ireland are considering withdrawing from the UK in order to rejoin the EU. The withdrawal of Northern Ireland would be smooth enough, perhaps even logistically preferable, since it will now have a large, unsecured border with Europe if it stays in the UK. Scotland is much trickier. If it were to withdraw from the UK and gain admission to the EU, it would give the reshaped UK a large land border with Europe, which could create a massive and awkward border control apparatus after so many years of open movement between Scotland and England.

(Many people voted to leave in order to halt compliance with EU immigration rules. Those same people would want the doors from the EU closed.)